How to install skirting boards
Everything you need to know in an easy to follow steps and video guides.
Installing skirting boards is made easy by following this guide. We will show you the tools and steps in a simple step by step guide and video instructions to install Intrim Mouldings skirting boards. We will show you how to produce a professional finish with scribe joints, and nail or glue fixing methods.
Did you know that there is a traditional method and Fast Trim method for installing skirting boards? Is Fast Trim or traditional method for installing skirting boards best for you? This will depend on your skills cutting a scribe and how much time you have available to do the installation. Read more about Fast Trim, and make the decision between traditional method or Fast Trim method before ordering your skirting boards.
Removing any loose/flaky paint or irregularities from wall surface with a paint scraper. This step isn’t required on new walls.
If renovating, you can see the previous nail fixings were located. Mark the wall above where the new skirting will be located. If a new plaster wall use a stud finder.
Typically, studs are at 450mm or 600mm spacings
Determine the first piece of skirting to be installed. We recommend that you work from left to right inside each room. For example. If you are on the inside of a room and looking out the door opening, install the first piece of skirting to the right side of the door opening and continue to work around the room from that point. This works with the Fast Trim method. The internal scribe joints are always on the left-hand end of the skirting board.
Measure first length of skirting board to be installed. This piece normally requires a square cut on both ends. Fit skirting and nail or glue in place.
Measure from the face of the skirting on the left to the wall on the right.
Scribe the left-hand end of skirting board. Cutting a scribe joint
Installing second piece and subsequent pieces of skirting boards
Nail method
Fit and fix in place by nailing through the skirting and plaster lining, into the framework studs.
OR
Glue method
Run two beads of Intrim Intense Power adhesive on the back of skirting board and place in position against wall and use a rubber mallet to tap along the length of the skirting to fix in place. No fixings required therefore minimal preparation required prior to painting.
Roughly mark the direction of the cut on the end of the skirting that you want to perform the internal mitre scribe joint.
Tilt combination saw over on 43 degrees (a little less than 45 degrees) in the direction as marked in previous step and crosscut at 90 degrees.
Mark the mitre and face cut intersection line with pencil.
End for end the skirting board so that you are cutting from the face side all the time.
Perform the 90-degree cut on the flat section of the skirting board and tilt saw over on 5 degrees (this is called back cutting and makes for a neater internal joint when installed.)
Take this straight cut through to the point of where the profile or patterned section of the skirting begins.
Clamp or support the end of the skirting board that the scribe joint is to be scribe cut with a coping saw
Proceed to start cutting profile (the profiled section of the skirting is typically at the top portion of the skirting) section of skirting with coping saw, starting from top of skirting board being careful not to snap the very thin section of the skirting left on the top edge
Continue to cut the profile section on the cut intersection point, with the coping saw positioned on a slight back angle from the face of cut, to produce an under cut or backing angle
You will find the cutting easier, if you come in from each side of profiled section as shown on video.
The final cut with the coping saw, is finished by completing the straight back cut that was performed by the combination saw
Position offcut of skirting board onto the end of the scribe cut to confirm neat fit
Fast Trim is a revolutionary new method allowing you to order pre-scribed skirting for your selected skirting design. Save time, save money, and achieve a high quality finish.
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